Clubs & Societies
Old Alleynian Boat Club
The Arrow Trophy Regatta
President: Tom Saunders (01-06) Hon Secretary: James Jarratt (04-11) Email: oldalleynianbc @ gmail.com Web: www.dulwich.org.uk/OABC
The 12 to 14 knot north easterly winds blowing at Cowes over the Arrow Trophy weekend of 12-13 October 2013 were a marked improvement on the almost non-existent puffs of 2012, so our hopes were higher for a more successful 2013 regatta. As a reminder, we sail as Dulwich College in the annual regatta for independent schools in what is the sailing equivalent of the Halford Hewitt (golf) and the Cricketer Cup. With a crew of ten on the Sunsail F40, Jason Proctor (00-07) once again helmed and gave us some excellent starts in a fleet of 22 boats. Unfortunately, while we sailed better than in the previous year, the fewer mistakes that we did make proved to be expensive, costing us several places in a couple of the races. As the standard of sailing is very high, it is difficult to make up ground in the relatively short races but we were competitive and did sail some excellent legs, where we proved our potential. Results on the Saturday were a 10th, 9th, tied 17.5 and a 13th from only four races as, with the winds dying toward the end of the day and an increasingly strong tide, there was no possibility of a face saving fifth race. Fine hospitality in the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and also on the part of Chris and Liana Light, who put up seven of the crew in Cowes, made amends for any disappointment. With two fleet races on the Sunday in stronger winds and heavy showers, we managed a 13th and a much better 6th in a reduced fleet of 18, finishing the regatta 9th of 18 overall in the fleet racing. We did, however, finish ahead of Radley, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Marlborough, Ardingly, Cranleigh and King’s Canterbury, which is still creditable for a school not traditionally associated with sailing. We are always competitive, now have a good standing in the sailing world and will be formally running the Arrow Regatta in 2016 for three years. This year’s crew were: Jason Proctor (00-07; helm), Charlie Lowe (94-01; tactician), Alastair Capon (73-80; skipper), Jemima Lofts (Head of Sailing, Dulwich College); Conrad Manning (09-11), Rahim Kheraj (02- 07), Oliver Light (03-08), Alex Langley (98-03), Anthony Frankford (62-69) and Matt Pimm (non OA). Incidentally, we are also the current holders of the 150 year old Royal Thames Yacht Club Belvidere Cup, which we won back in 2007 in random pairs team racing at Royal Victoria Docks. We will be competing to retain this highly esteemed and valuable trophy on 26-27 April 2014 by match racing the Royal Thames’s J80s at Queen Mary Reservoir; so, who knows, we may find further success.
We are a young boat club whose aim is to promote rowing within the College and provide a base for alumni with any level of interest in the sport to be able to keep in contact, socialise and potentially compete in the future. It was very pleasing to see a great turnout at all our events this year, including the OABC Annual Dinner, Alleyn Club Dinner, OABC Invitational Regatta and Dulwich College Boat Club dinner. It is understood that members may experience difficulty attending all events because of location or educational commitments, so it is much appreciated when you take the time to attend those you can! This year the focus for OABC is to invest in ourselves, with the aim of further increasing membership and moving to a closer relationship with DCBC and the College. In particular, we are looking to assist DCBC in raising the profile of rowing within the College, so as to secure further support for the sport in the future. To help do this, we will be donating photos of past College crews that have been successful at a high level. If anyone has any photos in electronic or printed format, the Club would be most interested in seeing them. A selection will be donated to DCBC and all will be used to help illustrate the Club’s history and identity, something that is very important for such a young club aiming to establish itself in the alumni world. We are commissioning Club ties, along with bow ties, to shape our identity further and look forward to being able to wear them at social events. Old Alleynian Boat Club Annual Dinner Report Saturday 18 January saw the OABC Annual Dinner take place at the East India Club in St James’s Square. A record 53 guests sat down to dinner, among them Dr Joseph Spence, the Master, Dr Colin Niven OBE (52-60), President of the Alleyn Club, and Sixth Form oarsmen and their coaches. We were treated to excellent food and wine, enjoyed in the splendid setting of the Luncheon Room. Many OABC bow ties and rowing blazers were also in evidence, showing our Club character strongly on the night.
Alastair Capon (73-80)
Members and guests at the 2013 Annual Dinner
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